Station-indicator.



No. .7119,293; Patentw sept. ls, |9u2. v J. s. Moisson.

STATIUN INDICATOR.

(Application led May 2, 1901.) (Nolodel.) 3 Sheets-shunt I.

A TTONE YS TN'E Nomzls PETERS co.. PriooLlrHa, WASNINGTQN. D. c. v

Pat-emu sept. le, |902..

.1.'s. ANuERsoN. STATIUN INDIGATUB. (Application led May 2, 1901.)

3 Sheets-*Skaai 2.A

(No Model.) y

` No. 709,293.` Patented Sept. I6, |902.

J. s. Ammsnson.l

STATIONA mnlcmom (Application led May 2, 1901.)

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' UNITE STATES ATnNr Prion.

JACOB S. ANDERSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

STATION-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming'wpart of Letters Patent No. 709,293, dated September 16, 1902.

Application filed May 2, 1901. Serial No. 58,420. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concer-n:

Be it known that I, JACOB S. ANDERSON, a citizen of `the United States,.and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Station-Indicator, of which the following is a` full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a device for indicating the stations or stopping-points of railway-cars. It is particularly adapted for use in connection with street-railways to indicate the crossing streets, although obviously it could be applied to other railways.

This specification is a specific description of one form of the invention, while the claims are definitions of the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyingr drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a view showing the invention applied to a street-railway car. Fig. 2 is an elevation of one end of theindicator, parts Ibeing shown in section. Fig. 3 is an elevation Fig. 4 is a.

of the other end of the indicator. cross-section of the indicator. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5 ot' Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the friction device within one of the drums. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the wheel which runs on the rail and transmits the driving movement to the indicator. Fig. 8 is a sectional view lookingupward on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the rail-wheel. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the shaft-coupling employed to allow for the Vertical. movement of the rail-wheel and the shaft driven thereby, and Fig. 11 is a sectional perspective view of the attachment which is used to lay out the stations or i crossing streets on the display-apron.

The indicating mechanism is driven by a wheel 12, which has a rubber or other tire 14, adapted to run on the rail of the track or on any other convenientpart. This tire 14 is carried on a split ring 15, which is expansible by screws 16, wor-king in the rim of the wheel 12. By means of these screws 16 the ring 15 may be expanded within the tire 14, and thus the circumference of the wheel may be kept of uniform size at all times and the wear on the tire compensated for. The wheel 12 is carried in a fork 17, which has a shank 1S, fitted to slide vertically, but not to turn in a socketpiece 19, carried by an arm 20. A spring 21 within the socket-piece 19 presses down the shank 18, and thus keeps the wheel12 firmly engaged with the track. The arm 20 is mounted to swing around a boss 22, carried fast on a plate 23, rigidly secured under the bottom of the car, as best shown in Fig. 7. A spring 24 is fastened to the boss 22 and engages the socketpiece 19. This springholds the socketpiece yieldingly in position transversely of the car. As the car turns around curves or encounters other inequalities inthe 'track the spring 24 will give to permit the wheel l2 to accommodate itself to the inequalities mentioned. Passing through and mounted in the boss 22 is a vertically-extending shaft 25, which projects downward loosely through an arm 26, secured to the fork 17. The lower eX- tremity of the shaft 25 carries a bevel-gear 27, and this is in mesh with a corresponding gear 28, fastened to the axle of the wheel 12. The movement of the wheel l2 will impart a rotary movement to the shaft 25, nor will this movement be affected by the sluing of the wheel12 from side to side. The indicating mechanism is mounted in a casing 29, which is fastened in any convenient position within the car just over the shaft 25.

indicates the shaft which constitutes the drive-shaft of the indicator, and this shaft, as best shown in Fig. 10, is provided with a feather 3l, fitting in a sleeve 32, secured to the upper end of the shaft 25. By this arrangement the shaft 30 is driven from the shaft 25; but the latter shaft is allowed to move vertically independently of the shaft 30.

Within the upper part of the casing 29, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is mounted to turna shaft 33. This shaft passes horizontally through the casing and forms one of the reels or drums on which the display-apron `is wound. The display-apron is indicated at 34 in Fig. 4, and it is located within the casing 29 between two auxiliary end walls, which are indicated, respectively, by the'characters 35 and 36. A second shaft 37 is mounted to turn in the casing 29 and extends parallel with the shaft 33. This shaft 37 is provided at points between the walls and 36 with spring-arms 3S, fastened intermediate their IOO ends and having their 'ends free and provided with friction-shoes 39. These arms 38 and shoes 39 fit within a hollow drum or reel 40, which is situated in the casing 29 between the walls 35 and 36. and by the action of the spring-arms 38 and shoes 39 the drum 40` is mounted friction-tight on the shaft 37. By reference to Fig; 4 it will be observed that the drum 40 is of much greater diameter than the shaft This drum 40 carries one end of the apron, the other end being fastened to the shaft 33. The advantage of having the drum 40 much larger than the shaft 33 will be fully explained hereinafter.

Reference 4to Fig. 3 will show a spur-gear 41 fast on the shaft 33 outside of the wall 36. Fig. 3 shows the casing with its outer end Wall removed, thus exposingthe inner or auxiliary end wall 36. In practice, however, this Wall will be covered by the exterior end wall, which is visible in Fig. l. The spurgear 41 meshes with an idler-gear42, mounted on a stub-shaft 43, carried in the Wall 36. The shaft 37 is projected through this Wall 36 and carries 1ooselya'spur-gear44. Fastened on the shaft 37, alongside of the gear 44, is a ratchet-wheel 45, engaged by a spring-pawl 46, carried on the gear 44. The end of the shaft 37 opposite the end shown in Fig. 3 projects through the auxiliary end Wall 35 (see Fig. 2) and carries outside of said Wall 35 a ratchet-Wheel 47, which is disposed oppositely to the ratchet-Wheel 45 and pressed by a spring-pawl 48, mounted on the Wall 35 of the casing 29.

The shaft 33 projects through the wall 35 (see Fig. 2) and carries a worm-wheel 49. This worm-Wheel is adapted to be engaged by a worm 50, carried on a shaft 51, mounted to turn in a frame 52, which swings around the axis of the shaft 30. The shaft 30 carries a pinion 53, which is meshed with a spur 54, fastened to the shaft 5l. The frame 52 is provided with a finger-piece 55 for facilitating the manipulation of the frame, and this frame 52 is inclosed within a suitable case 56, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) which case is supplemental to the casing 29 and is of such form as to permit of the swinging of the frame 52. By swinging the frame 52 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the opposite position-that is to say, in which the Worm 50 engages the opposite side of the Worm-wheel49-the shaft 33 Will be driven oppositely. The purpose of providing the swinging frame 52 is to enable the movement of the shaft 33 to be reversed. The frame 52 is held in either position'in which it is put by elbow-levers 57, which are pivotally mounted on the wall 35 (see Fig. 5) and which are pressed by springs 58, fastened to said Wall. Fig. 5 shows the reversing movement of the frame. When the frame is in the position shown in full lines in this view, it is engaged with one pair of the elbow-levers 57, and when the frame is thrown to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5 it is engaged and held by the other pair of levers 57. The casing 29 is proL vided in its front face with a transverse slot covered by a glass plate 59, past which slot the display ribbon or apron 34 runs, the apron being held properly disposed by guide-rods 60, arranged in the casing. (See Fig. 4.) The ribbon has marked thereon the various stations or crossing streets and other points about which it may be desired to inform the passengers of the car. As the shaft 25 turns under the action of the wheel 12 the shaft 30 is driven, and this shaft, driving the shaft 5l, causes the movement of the shaft 33 through the movement of the gears 49 and 50. The shaft 33 may be driven in either direction, according to the position of the frame 52. The gears 41, 42, and 44 cause the shaft 37 to be driven in time with the shaft 30, and therefore as the apron is unwound from, say, for example, the shaft 33 it is simultaneously wound upon the drum 40. By mounting this drum friction-tight on the shaft 37 the drum may turn relatively to the shaft,'so as to aocom modate itself to the speed With which the ribbon is taken from the drum or passed to it. The shaft 33 being much smaller than the drum 40 causes the strain of the display-apron to be placed continuously on the drum 40, and this drumbeing movable relatively to its shaft 37 is able to accommodate itself to the conditions under which it has to operate. The shaft 33 is provided with a thumb-button 61, which projects outside of the casing 29, as shown in Fig. 1, and which enables the apron to be moved manually Without the intervention of the gearing 30, 50, and 33; This manual operation of the parts is necessary When it is desired to adjust the apron to any certain position-as, for example, to change it from hevshaft 33 1o the drum 40, or vice versa. When the shaft 33 is turned manually to unwind the apron therefrom, the gear 44'is turned from left to right in Fig. 3, thus causing the shaft 37 to be driven through the medium of the paWl 44 and ratchet-Wheel 45. When the shaft 33is turned in the opposite di rection to Wind the apron thereon, the shaft 37 is notdriven, butthedrum 40is allowed to turn idly over the shaft 37 as the apron is drawn around the shaft 33. The paW1-48 prevents back movement of the shaft 37, enabling it to turn only when moving in such direction as will Wind the apron on it. It will therefore be seen that by the peculiar devices which I have provided the apron is fed uniformly to and from the roll and shafts on which it is carried, audit is prevented from being fed too fast or too slow, and thereby from being improperly wound on one part or the other. When the car reaches the end of the line, if it is started backward to return over the line Without reversing the car the display-apron is simply rewound in a reverse direction, thus displaying the stations or streets in the proper sequence. If the car is passed onto a loop or by some other means turned around at the end of the line, it Will IOO IIO

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the movement of the shaft will be properly communicat-ed to the shaft 33 and otherparts of the indicator.

In preparing the display-aprons the stations or other points are marked on the aprons at varying spaces from each other, such I'spaces corresponding with the distances between the streets. Now it is necessary to determine upon the relative relations of the names of streets or stations, and this is done by placing in the indicator a blank apron and running the car over the track. lVhen each crossing street or station is reached, a mark is made on the blank traveling apron. After the entire run has been performed the ribbon will bear'a number of marks at varying distances from each other. tances will correspond with the relative locations of the streets, and the names of the streets may then be printed or otherwise produced on the apron at the marks made. In order to facilitate marking the apron, I provide an attachment shown in Fig. Il. In applying this attachment the glass plate 59 in Fig. t is removed and the guide-rails 62 are attached to the casing 29. Between these guide-rails is arranged to slide a plate 63, and this plate carries a perpendicular tube 64, in which is tted a pencil 65 and a spring 66. The spring 66 presses thepencil onto the apron, which is moving within the casing 29.` This apron is indicated at the point 34 in Fig. 1l. A hand-lever 67 is tulcrumed on the casing 29, the hand-lever being made removable, so that when not in use it may be detached. This hand-lever is forked, `as indicated at 68, and engages the tube 64. A spring 69 is fastened to the fulcrum of the lever 67 and presses the tube 64:. to return it to the proper position. By moving the handlever around its fulcrum the tube 64.-, with the plate 63 and the pencil 65, may be moved longitudinally along the slot through which the display-apron is visible, and thus a mark made upon the apron. As the car is being run over the track with a blank apron thereon an attendant stands at the lever 67 and irnmediately before reaching each street the hand-lever is `operated to move the` pencil over the apron, thus producing a transverse mark thereon. After this has been done the names of the streets maybe readily marked on the apron inproper sequence.

Various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I consider myself entitled to all such variations as may lie within the scope of my claims.

`Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a station-indicator, the combination of a drive-shaft, a frame mounted to swing around the axis thereof, a worm carried in These dis*` the frame and geared with the drive-shaft, a worm-wheel mounted stationary with respect to the frame and adapted to be engaged on either side by the worm, the frame being capable of swinging with the worm from one side of the worm-wheel to the other and indicating devices driven from the Worm-wheel.

2. In a station-indicator the combination of a drive-shaft, a frame mounted to swing around the axis thereof, a Worm mounted in the frame and swinging therewith, a gear connected with the worm, a gear mounted on the drive-shaft and meshed with the gear of the worm, a worm-wheel stationary with respect to the frame and engaged by the worm, the frame being capable of swinging to either side of the Worm-wheel, for the purpose specified, and indicating devices driven from the worin-wheel.

3. In a station-indicator the combination of a drive-shaft, a frame arranged to swing around the axis thereof, a worm carried by the frame and driven by the drive-shaft, a Worm-Wheel arranged adjacentto the frame and capable of being engaged at either side by the worm, indicating devices driven from the worm-wheel and a spring-pressed arm at each side of the worm-wheel to engage and hold the frame in either position.

et. The combination with a railway-car, of a station-indicator carried thereby, a shaft arranged to drive the station indicator, a wheel carried to swing around the axis of the shaft and geared therewith, the wheel being adapted to run on the ground, and a spring serving to hold the wheel yieldingly in a certain position with respect to the shaf't.

5. The combination of a shaft, an arm arranged to swing around the axis thereof, a fork carried by the arm, a wheel mounted in the fork, gearing connecting the wheel to the shaft, andra spring serving to hold the fork and arm yieldingly in a certain position with respect to the shaft.

6. The combination with a railway-car, of an indicator mounted therein, a drive-shaft in the indicator, a shaft extending downward in proximity to the ground, the latter shaft having sliding connection with the driveshaft of the indicator, and means connected with the latter shaft for imparting movement thereto.

7. A traction -Wheel, comprising a Wheel proper, a exible tire arranged thereon, an

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expansive ring tted within the tire, and

fastened to the shaft intermediate the ends of the arm, and curved friction-shoes fastened to each end of the spring-arm and engaged with the inner circumference of the drum, for the purpose specified.

9. The combination of an apron, a winding member in connection with one end thereof, means for imparting movement to said member in either direction, a drum in connection with the other end of the apron, an axial shaft on which the drum is loosely mounted, means for establishing a frictional connection between the shaft and drum, and gearing connecting together the said winding member and the shaft, said gearing including a gear loose on the shaft and pawl-andratchet devices for rendering said gear fast to the shaft when the gear turns in one direction.

10. The combination of an apron, a winding member in connection with one end thereof, means for imparting movement to said member in either direction, a drum in connection with the other end of the apron, an axial shaft on which the drum is loosely mounted, means for establishing a frictional connection between the shaft and drum, and gearing connectingtogether the said winding member and the shaft, said gearing including a gear loose on the shaft and pawl-andratchet devices for rendering said gear fast to the shaft when the gear turns in one direction, and a second pawl and ratchet connected with the shaft to prevent idle movement of the shaft during the period that the before-mentioned gear turns loosely thereon.

ll. In a station-indicator, the combination of a rotary driving member, a frame mounted to swing around the axis thereof, indicating devices, and gearing for driving the indicating devices from the said rotary driving member, said gearing comprising a gear element mounted on the swinging frame and connected with the rotary driving member and a gear element connected to the indicating devices, the frame being adapted to swing to engage the rst-named gear element with either side of the second-named gear element, for the purpose specified.

12. In a station-indicator, the combination of an apron, a Winding member connected with one end thereof, means for turning said member in either direction, a drum connected with the other end of the apron, a shaft on which the drum is frictionally mounted for the purpose specified, and means connecting together the shaft and the said winding member, said means driving the shaft from the winding member in one direction only;

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JACOB S. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

I. B. OWENS, JN0.A M. RITTER. 

